Kathua, August 20: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, visited the border village of Karol Krishna on Thursday as part of the ‘Vibrant Village Program.’
During his visit, Sinha highlighted the benefits of various government schemes for local families and presented appointment letters to youth. Addressing residents from six key villages, he emphasized that border villages are not the last outposts of India but rather the first line of the nation’s identity and development.
He noted that for decades, these areas felt neglected and distanced from governance priorities. However, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, border villages have been integrated into the mainstream of development. “When the story of India’s progress is written, it should begin with villages like Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gajnal, Bobiya, Kadiyala, and Gujjar Chak, where the Indian flag waves and the border breathes,” he stated.
Reflecting on the progress made since 2019, Sinha mentioned that all 216 border villages in Kathua district are now connected by roads and have access to electricity. Telecommunication and television services, once limited, have now reached every household.
He emphasized that these statistics represent real changes in people’s lives, not just numbers. He shared data indicating a reduction in poverty levels, a halving of urban migration, and a 30% increase in village incomes. Employment opportunities have risen, and unemployment has decreased to nearly half of previous levels. Additionally, over 2,000 personal and community bunkers have been constructed for the safety of families living in border areas. “Our goal should be to lift the entire population above the poverty line,” he asserted.
Sinha also praised the role of women in transforming the border economy. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, more than 1,300 self-help groups have been established, benefiting over 12,000 families. Women are engaged in sewing, embroidery, crafts, and small-scale businesses, strengthening both household and village economies.
He urged the youth of border villages to dream big, akin to those in metropolitan cities. Government schools now offer improved facilities, digital classrooms, vocational training, and a full academic session. “This is not a small change; it is a generational shift,” he remarked.
Sinha outlined four key resolutions for the development of border villages: connecting them not just by roads but also by markets to promote self-reliance; enhancing opportunities in agriculture, tourism, defense support services, and crafts for youth empowerment; improving healthcare facilities through strengthened telemedicine connectivity; and enhancing security infrastructure by increasing coordination between civil administration and armed forces. “Development and security are not separate goals; they are two pillars of the same objective. Only a secure village can be a prosperous one, and only a prosperous village can contribute to a self-reliant and developed India,” he concluded.
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